PRENATAL CHIROPRACTOR

PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE

by

Chiropractic care is important while a woman is pregnant.  Regular care can reduce pain and decrease pregnancy related symptoms, but it is important for optimal growth and development of the baby as well. As chiropractors in Fort Collins, Dr. Elise and Dr. Lara are both Webster certified and love to see mothers throughout their pregnancy.  Although it is extremely important to be checked in pre-natal stages, it is also vital to get checked post-natal.

“During pregnancy, your spine and the soft tissues of your body undergo the most rapid transformation that they will go through in your entire life. The first part of this change happens over a nine-month period, but the second part of this change (the return to previous form) happens more rapidly, as the weight of the baby is suddenly no longer there. Your body is able to integrate these changes with more ease when you receive chiropractic care. In fact, many of the common symptoms during pregnancy, especially neck pain, back pain, headaches and heartburn, are related to the stress on your nervous system from this rapid change. Remember, the spine encases the central nervous system and when it is misaligned, it can put tension on the exiting nerves and decrease normal function. The same goes for the fourth trimester. Your spine is trying to adjust to the absence of the baby in your belly. Chiropractic adjustments aid beautifully in this process to realign your spine and pelvis.

Your spine is also very “soft” at the end of pregnancy. Your body has produced a hormone called relaxin to soften the joints and ligaments and allow for your pelvis to open wide and birth your baby. As you begin to nurse your baby and carry him in your arms, you may find that you feel back pain and headaches again because this softness allows your joints to become misaligned more easily. Once again, chiropractic is an excellent way to restore function and reduce pain and discomfort.”

– The full article can be found at: https://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/The-Outer-Womb/the-fourth-trimester-a-guide-to-healthy-postpartum-recovery.html#sthash.0Y69w6VU.dpuf

KINESIOTAPE & CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR PREGNANT MAMAS

by

Many women seek out chiropractic care during their pregnancies.  As female bodies change and adapt to being pregnant, musculoskeletal problems can arise.  Our Fort Collins chiropractors, Dr. Elise and Dr. Lara are specialized in caring for pregnant mothers; they help by relieving pain, decreasing back labor, speeding up labor, and balancing out the mother’s hips for optimal growth of the baby.

Chiropractic care and pregnancy go hand in hand.  Below is a diagram of different ways to use kinesiotape to assist in what chiropractic care helps with.  Many times patients and their spouses can use K-Tape completely on their own, after learning how to do it only once.  If you have any questions about how kinesiotape works, please don’t hesitate to ask.

prenatal chiropractic care fort collins

DELAYED CORD CLAMPING

by

Since we are prenatal and pediatric chiropractors, we love sharing information with our expecting moms and dads.  The following information can be found in Pathways Magazine, the official magazine of the International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association.  At our office in Fort Collins, we have many extra (and free) Pathways magazines for parents to have.

prenatal chiropractic care fort collins

“The umbilical cord is usually clamped immediately after birth,” write José M. Ceriani Cernadas, MD, from the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires in Argentina, and colleagues. “There is no sound evidence to support this approach, which might deprive the newborn of some benefits such as an increase in iron storage…Iron deficiency early in life may have pronounced central nervous system effects such as cognitive impairment; iron deficiency is also the main cause of anemia, one of the most serious conditions in childhood, especially in developing countries… ”

Since we are prenatal and pediatric chiropractors, we love sharing information with our expecting moms and dads.  The following information can be found in Pathways Magazine, the official magazine of the International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association.  At our office in Fort Collins, we have many extra (and free) Pathways magazines for parents to have.

“The umbilical cord is usually clamped immediately after birth,” write José M. Ceriani Cernadas, MD, from the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires in Argentina, and colleagues. “There is no sound evidence to support this approach, which might deprive the newborn of some benefits such as an increase in iron storage…Iron deficiency early in life may have pronounced central nervous system effects such as cognitive impairment; iron deficiency is also the main cause of anemia, one of the most serious conditions in childhood, especially in developing countries… ”

“Delayed cord clamping at birth increases neonatal mean venous hematocrit within a physiologic range,” the authors write. “Furthermore, this intervention seems to reduce the rate of neonatal anemia. This practice has been shown to be safe and should be implemented to increase neonatal iron storage at birth.”

To read the entire article, please visit – https://icpa4kids.org/Wellness-Articles/delayed-cord-clamping-at-birth-reduces-neonatal-anemia.html

BEST BABY CARRIER FOR BABY

by

Let’s face it, moms can only do so much.  They multitask every single day, all day long, usually with babies in there arms and picking up after toddlers/adolescents/husbands.  If you’re one of these moms, baby wearing may be a great option for you.  You can be close to your little one and still be able to use both of your hands.

There are many baby carriers on the market, so lets talk about the best options for you and baby.  We want to avoid any developmental problems with their hips, and keep their bodies properly positioned.  The risk of hip dysplasia (abnormal growth of the hip joint) is a frequent concern when talking about carriers.  Hip dysplasia can be present at birth or can develop throughout the first year of a child’s life.  Infants have softer tissue and bone than adults do, so the hip can slip out of place and become subluxated (misaligned) and become problematic.  Parents can reduce the risk of hip dysplasia by encouraging hips to be spread apart, without being in an extended position.

When choosing a carrier, avoid the narrow-based options.  Look for options that support the baby’s hips/thighs.  When placing the child in the carrier, tilt their pelvis inward and have their feet below their knees.  Don’t force your baby into any position that doesn’t seem easy or comfortable.  Below is a diagram taken from carrymeaway.com

safe babywearing

The first image shows a narrow based carrier with legs hanging down with no support.  When using these types of carriers, the hip takes the full weight of the legs.

The second image shows a medium based carrier.  The legs are still not well supported, but this is a better option than the first.  These carriers will still not properly support the weight of the leg.

The third image is the wide based option.  The knees are above the hips, with no weight being placed onto the hip joints.

The fourth image shows a side view of the wide based carrier.  Again, you can note the position of the knees.

Here is a short list of a few of the best wide based carriers:  Boba 4G, Ergo, Beco Gemini/Soleil, Tula.

WHAT ABOUT SLINGS/WRAPS?
Slings are a great option for moms who want to be close to their little ones.  Remember that slings should also support the baby’s legs and spinal alignment.  Use a soft fabric that will conform to the baby’s spine, and encourage proper cervical spine development.  Again, a short list of the best slings/wraps:  Moby Wrap, Wrapsody Stretch-Hybrid, Hana baby wrap, Boba stretchy wrap, Girasol woven wrap, Didymos woven, and ring slings.

Let us know if you would like any help using your wraps, and let us know what works best for you and your precious babe.  If you have any concerns about your baby’s hips bring them in for a chiropractic evaluation and examination.  Chiropractic is safe and gentle on kiddos, plus both of our Fort Collins doctors are pediatric certified!

For more great information on carriers visit https://www.carrymeaway.com/learncenter/baby-carriers-and-healthy-hips-busting-some-myths/